Rick Stansbury joked Monday that star incoming freshman Charles Bassey has made it known where was going to college for a while now.

"He's been telling y'all for two years, who is his team he liked," the third-year Western Kentucky men's basketball coach said on Monday. "What would he say? Western Kentucky. Why are you guys shocked?"

Stansbury defended the commitment, pointing out that he picked his school because he wanted a place "where he can be impactful."

He added that he started recruiting the 6-foot-10, five-star center four years ago while he was an assistant at Texas A&M. And he's continued that relationship with Bassey, especially since he moved to Kentucky to attend Louisville's Aspire Academy.

"Why shouldn't a young man go somewhere where he has a chance to be special and be impactful," Stansbury said. "That's what we sold him on."

Stansbury noted that Bassey is more developed on the defensive end, but said that his offense might surprise people. He pointed out that he has the ability to hit the 3-point shot.

But he specifically pointed to his academic excellence — he had a 3.9 GPA in high school — and work ethic as his most important traits.

Bassey's legal guardian, Hennssy Auriantal, was hired into a role in Aspire's program this past season. A former college player with coaching experience, Auriantal has been said to be a potential candidate to join WKU's coaching staff, the Courier Journal reported previously.

When asked if he had any updates on the Hilltoppers' vacant coaching spot, he said "not yet" and that they would make a decision soon.

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WKU head basketball coach Rick Stansbury talks about his efforts over the years to recruit Charles Bassey.
Jeff Faughender, Louisville Courier Journal